Radiator fan with a magnetic spindle

ABSTRACT

A radiator fan has a magnetic spindle rotatably positioned in a suspended situation between two magnetic guide seats, and a fan propeller fixedly mounted around one end portion of the magnetic spindle. When an alternating current runs in an inductor coil fixed in the radiator fan provided between the magnetic spindle and a magnet fixedly attached on the fan propeller, the fan propeller is driven by repulsion force of an alternating magnetic field produced by the inductor coil to run. Because the magnetic spindle is positioned in the suspended situation between the two guide seats, almost no frictional resistance exists between motional elements and static elements of the radiator fan, therefore the fan propeller runs free from noise in stable and reliable way, and the life span of the radiator fan is greatly increased.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a radiator fan having a magnetic spindle rotatably positioned in a suspended situation between two magnetic guide seats to enable a fan propeller to run against almost zero frictional resistance.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional radiator fan (50) normally comprises a frame (51), a bearing (52) fitted in a center of the frame (51), a spindle (55) securely fixed in an inner ring (520) of the bearing (52), and a fan propeller (56) mounted around a first end portion of the spindle (55).

[0005] The fan propeller (56) has a magnet (54) fixedly attached on an inner side face thereof facing towards the spindle (55). An inductor coil (53) is provided between the magnet (54) and an outer ring of the bearing (52). A C-ring (57) is provided around a second end portion of the spindle (55) to fixedly secure the spindle (55) with the inner ring of the bearing (52).

[0006] When an alternating current runs in the inductor coil (53), an alternating magnet field is produced by the inductor coil (53). The magnet (54) is forced by repulsion force of the alternating magnetic field to run around inductor coil (53) and drives the fan propeller (56) to run about the spindle (55). Because the fan propeller (56) is fixedly mounted around the first end portion of the spindle (55), and the spindle (55) is fixed with the inner ring (520) of the bearing (52), the inner ring (520) of the bearing (52) rotates with respect to the static outer ring of the bearing (52).

[0007] It is appreciated that due to the frictional resistance between balls and the inner and outer rings of the bearing (52), the running of the radiator fan (50) must produce some noise. Furthermore, after long-term use the elements of the radiator fan (50) become worn and aged, and the life span of the conventional radiator fan is thus limited.

[0008] Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide an improved radiator fan to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The main object of the present invention is to provide a radiator fan, which particularly has a magnetic spindle rotatably positioned in a suspended situation between two magnetic guide seats. A fan propeller is fixedly mounted around one end portion of the magnetic spindle. An inductor coil is fixed in the radiator fan and provided between the magnetic spindle and a magnet is fixedly attached on an inner side face of the fan propeller. When an alternating current runs in the coil the fan propeller is driven to turn by repulsion force of an alternating magnetic field produced by the inductor coil. Because the magnetic spindle is positioned in the suspended situation between the two magnetic guide seats, almost no frictional resistance exists between motional elements and static elements of the radiator fan, therefore the fan propeller runs free from noise in stable and reliable way, and the life span of the radiator fan is greatly increased.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a radiator fan in accordance with the invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the radiator fan in accordance with the invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the radiator fan in accordance with the invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the radiator fan in accordance with the invention; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a conventional radiator fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] The present invention relates to a radiator fan having almost no frictional resistance existing in a running operation between motional and static elements.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the radiator fan in accordance with the present invention has a frame (20) comprising an upper frame (21) fixed on a lower frame (22), a magnetic spindle (10) rotatably fitted between the upper and lower frames (21, 22), and a fan propeller (11) fixedly mounted around one end portion of the magnetic spindle (10).

[0018] An inductor coil (12) is provided around the magnetic spindle (10) and secured with the frame (20) as a static element. The fan propeller (11) has a magnet (13) attached on an inner side face thereof facing towards the magnetic spindle (10).

[0019] Two magnetic guide seats (23) are respectively fixed in the upper and lower frames (21, 22) and have south and north magnetic poles of two opposed ends thereof respectively corresponding to south and north magnetic poles of two opposite ends of the magnetic spindle (10). Due to the repulsion force between the like magnetic poles of two adjacent opposed ends of the magnetic guide seats (23) and the magnetic spindle (10), the magnetic spindle (10) is positioned between the two magnetic guide seats (23) in a suspended situation.

[0020] When an alternating current runs in the inductor coil (12), an alternating magnetic field is produced by the inductor coil (12). The magnet (13) is then forced by repulsion force of the alternating magnetic field to run along with the fan propeller (11). Because the fan propeller (11) is fixed with the magnetic spindle (10), the magnetic spindle (10) runs along with the fan propeller (11) in a motional status with respect to a static status of the magnetic guide seats (23). Because the magnetic spindle (10) is positioned between the two magnetic guide seats (23) in a suspended situation, the frictional resistance between the magnetic spindle (10) and the magnetic guide seats (23) is almost completely eliminated.

[0021] In the first embodiment of the invention, the opposite ends of the magnetic spindle (10) are respectively defined with two guide sockets corresponding to two guide posts respectively formed on the two opposed ends of the magnetic guide seats (23), whereby the magnetic spindle (10) is rotatably positioned between the two magnetic guide seats (23).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, in a second practicable embodiment of the invention, the opposite ends of the magnetic spindle (10 a) are respectively formed with two guide posts corresponding to two guide slots respectively defined in the opposed ends of the two magnetic guide seats (23 a), whereby the magnetic spindle (10 a) is rotatably positioned between the two magnetic guide seats (23 a).

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, in a third practicable embodiment of the invention, the magnetic spindle (10 b) has a guide post integrally formed at a first end thereof corresponding to a guide slot defined in a first one of the magnetic guide seats (23 a), and a guide slot defined in a second end thereof corresponding to a guide post formed on a second one of the magnetic guide seats (23), whereby the magnetic spindle (10 b) is rotatably positioned between the two magnetic guide seats (23 a, 23).

[0024] It can be understood that the radiator fan in accordance with the invention has a first outstanding advantage that the magnetic spindle (10) is positioned in a suspended situation between the two magnetic guide seats (23), almost no frictional resistance exists between motional elements and static elements of the radiator fan. Therefore the fan propeller runs free from noise in stable and reliable way, and the life span of the radiator fan is very long.

[0025] A second important advantage of the present invention is that the structure of the radiator fan is simple, so that the production efficiency of the radiator fan of the invention is increased accordingly.

[0026] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiator fan comprising: a frame (20) having an upper frame (21) securely fixed on a lower frame (22); two magnetic guide seats (23) respectively and securely fixed in centers of the upper and lower frames (21, 22); a magnetic spindle (10) rotatably positioned in a suspended situation between the two magnetic guide seats (23), wherein each of the magnetic guide seats has a south and a north magnetic poles at two opposed ends thereof respectively corresponding to south and north magnetic poles of two opposite ends of the magnetic spindle (10); a fan propeller (11) fixedly mounted around one end portion of the magnetic spindle (10); and an inductor coil (12) fixed in the frame (20) and provided between the magnetic spindle (10) and a magnet (13) fixedly attached on an inner side face of the fan propeller (11).
 2. The radiator fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic spindle (10) has two opposite ends thereof respectively formed with two guide posts corresponding to two guide slots respectively defined in the two magnetic guide seats (23 a).
 3. The radiator fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic spindle (10) has two opposite ends thereof respectively defined therein with two guide slots corresponding to two guide posts respectively formed on the two magnetic guide seats (23).
 4. The radiator fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic spindle (10) has a guide post and a guide slot respectively formed on and defined in two opposite ends thereof, the two magnetic guide seats (23 a, 23) respectively have a guide slot and a guide post provided at two opposed ends thereof corresponding to the guide post and the guide slot of the magnetic spindle (10). 